Types of adoption

Every family’s journey is unique, and so is adoption.

There’s more than one way to give a child a loving home. From adopting through an agency to adopting a child you already know, this page explains the different types of adoption so you can find the path that’s right for you.

We can approve prospective adopters as both adopters and foster carers, helping children move into loving homes earlier. This approach, called early permanence, is chosen when adoption is the likely, but not yet certain, outcome of a child’s care.

Sometimes, we also approve adopters as temporary foster carers for connected children, for example, siblings of a child you may have already adopted. This helps them start to build bonds right away while legal steps are completed.

This can be especially important when keeping brothers and sisters together in the same family.

Find out more about early permanence (via adoptionengland.co.uk).

Intercountry adoption is when you adopt a child from overseas.

We do not carry out assessments for intercountry adoptions, but we do have an agreement with Coram IAC to complete these for us. Coram IAC are a specialist agency for international adoption and will charge a fee for their services to the prospective adopter.

Find out more about intercountry adoption view our information about adopting a child from abroad or contact Coram IAC on 0208 447 4753.

Non-agency adoption is the name given to adoption applications which involve a child who has not been placed with the prospective adopter by an adoption agency.

Find out more about adopting a child you know.